More than 100 light-rail operators begin training on Green Line

A train was parked at the Union Depot station Jan. 22, 2014, for a news conference announcing the June 14 opening date of the Green Line. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

More than 100 light-rail operators began training along the Green Line between Minneapolis and St. Paul on Monday.

That means it's time to keep eyes on both the roads and the rails, according to the Metropolitan Council.

At peak training times, light-rail trains could be running every 10 minutes between Lowertown and the rail's connection with the Blue Line in Minneapolis.

More than 60 newly hired Green Line operators and nearly as many Blue Line operators and their instructors will take part in the training runs, according to a release from the Met Council.

Operators already know how to run the trains, the council said. The training runs will familiarize them with the route, stations and operating procedures.

Test trains could run anytime, any day of the week. In April, Metro Transit will begin operating trains on the regular-service schedule from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week to prepare for the June 14 opening.

Traffic is not expected to be affected. Trains will operate with traffic and follow traffic signals.